Accessory to fire extinguisher

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an accessory for a fire-extinguisher in the form of an attachment to the base, comprising a container for at least one and as many as three lamps with reflectors, all of which are activated by batteries and may, by means of a switch, be employed in the event of a fire to illuminate the direction of the jet from the fire extinguisher.

United States Patent i [191 McGregor May 7, 1974 ACCESSORY TO FIRE EXTINGUISHER [76] Inventor: Roger McGregor, 2205 Nicolas Exammer 'charg i Parrot M Omrea], Quebec, Canada Attorney, Agent, or zrmeaman eaman [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 324,327

v The invention relates to an accessory for a tireextinguisher in the form of an attachment to the base, 52 us. Cl 240/6.4 R, 240/2 LD comprising a container for at least one and as many as [51] II.- Cl. FZIV 33/00 three lamps with reflgctors, a of which are activated [58] Field of Search 240/2 u), 6.4, 6.46 by batteries and may, by means of a Switch, be ployed in the event of a fire to illuminate the direction [56] References cued of the jet from the fire extinguisher. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,855,497 l0/l958 Bacon 240/6.4 R 5 Clam, 4 D'awmg J L l I SATENTEU MAY 7 I9 4 $16.2 'FIG. 4

ACCESSORY TO FIRE EXTINGUISHER My invention relates to a new and useful accessory to a fire extinguisher.

More particularly my invention relates to an accessory or attachment to a fire extinguisher enabling the use of the extinguisher in darkness or heavy smoke.

More particularly still my invention relates to an attachment to the base of a fire extinguisher of a nature to provide at least one powerful light beam which would permit the use of the extinguisher in the event of loss of ordinary illumination or when such illumination was too remote or obscured by smoke from the burning area.

The typical industrial or commercial fire extinguisher consistsof a cylindrical tank on a base having an inset across which a metal bar provides a hand grip so that when the extinguisher is in use and inverted for the purpose of mixing the chemicals therein, and activating the extinguishing fluid, the operator may grasp the bar and secure a satisfactory hold upon the weighty tank. In

more contemporary form, the tank is not necessarily inverted, but the construction insofar as it relates to my invention, is substantially similar. The cylindrical tank is usually of metal and rests as a rule on a shelf in an accessible location for use in the event of an emergency. Such an extinguisher is frequently called into play only when the fire has gained a foothold in the premises and when the usual illumination has failed owing to short circuits. In the extinguishers of the prior art, such circumstances have resulted in difficulty of location at the time of the emergency, and of operation owing to the darkness in which the operator finds himself, and his inability to direct the stream of the extinguishing liquid at the source of the fire. As a rule, emergency lamps are not portable with the extinguishers, and even if they were, their separate use with the fire extinguisher in the emergency circumstances is difficult, inconvenient and clumsy.

My invention consists of a cylinder of metal having the same external diameter as the standard fire extinguisher. A reflector and lamp is set within this cylinder in such a manner that the cover glass forms the base of an arc of the cylindrical surface which has been excised therefrom leaving a circular aperture slightly smaller than the diameter of the reflector and cover glass. The bulb socket at the apex of the reflector and the reflec tor itself are wired respectively to the positive and negative poles of a series of flashlight batteries positioned inside the cylinder. The lamp assembly operates by means of a switch positioned on the exterior of the cylinder and usually but not necessarily at an angle of 90 degrees to the lamp aperture. The cylinder is provided with a flange which may be threaded to screw into the base of the extinguisher, or in certain models, where the metal is susceptible to contraction by pressure, a band capable of being tightened about the exterior of the extinguisher above the flange is employed to hold the accessory firmly to the base of the extinguisher cylinder. For guidance of a potential operator in darkness or smoke, theaccessory is equipped with a circular luminescent patch about or above the switch and to enable the operator to invert the assembly for ejection of the extinguishing fluid a bar similar to that normally found on extinguishers of this type is riveted to the indented base-of the accessory. The battery container within the accessory may be constructed of metal so that the negative metallic bases of the batteries will form contact through the agency of the metal box. The latter is provided with a cover and a curved metal bar which traverses the positive poles of the batteries positioned within the box connecting them in series.

An alternate form of my invention consists of the above described metal cylinder with three reflectors positioned at angles of degrees to one another and connected to batteries contained in the metal enclosure within the cylinder in such a manner that the reflectors included in the negative circuit are connected to a switch between two of the reflectors on the surface of the cylinder, and the switch to the negative pole of one of the series of batteries. The three reflectors and their accompanying lamps provide a set of beams enabling the operator of the extinguisher to view a wide field of action in of a circle about him.

In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of my invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the accessory detached from a segment of extinguisher cylinder,

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the interior of the accessory taken along section 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the accessory showing the position of the switch and the luminescent disc,

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the interior of the embodiment of my invention including three reflectors.

In FIG. 1, l is the cylinder of the accessory; 2 is the flange with its threaded connection for insertion in the base 3 of the extinguisher 4; 5 is the reflector and 6 the lamp in its socket; 7 is the flanged case holding the disc of the reflector.

In FIG. 2, 8 is the battery of which the positive pole 9 is connected to the socket 10 of the bulb 6 by means of the wire 9(a). Similarly, the negative pole ll of the battery 8 is connected by the wire 11a to the switch l2 which in turn is connected by the wire 11b to the base of the lamp 6.

In FIG. 3, 13 is the luminescent disc or plaque affixed to the surface of the accessory 1 above switch 12.

In FIG. 4, a modification of my basic invention, the lamps 6, 6a and 6b are positioned in sockets at the apeces of the reflectors 5, 5a and 5b, themselves inserted in the rims of cases 7, 7a and 7b and connected in series to the positive pole 9 of battery 8. Similarly the switch 12 is connected through reflectors 5, 5a and 5b and directly to the negative pole ll of the battery so that the said switch 12 is capable of controlling the current flow to all three lamps simultaneously.

My invention is attached to the appropriate fire extinguisher after the base of the latter is threaded or a band susceptible of being tightened placed around the rim of the base. The assembly is then ready for use and in the event of a fire may be immediately activated by switching on the lamp or larnps.

The construction of one embodiment of my invention is as follows:

The-cylinder 1 may be constructed of any suitable metal sufficiently strong to support the weight of the extinguisher. In one of my embodiments of my invention the construction is of steel and has a height of 4% inches. Its outer diameter is 7 inches and the diameter of the flange 2 is 6 /8 inches. The diameter of the reflector casing 7 inset in the accessory is 3 inches and the battery 8 is 1 volts in power and occupies a container (not shown) in the form of a crescent with a plastic cover through which is inserted a pole forming a contact with pole 9 of battery 8 and wired to the socket for lamp 6 preferably 4 amperes. The reflector 5 is the normal metallic reflector employed in portable flood lamps and possessing a high polish and power of concentration. The switch 12 is inset in the side of the cylinder so that no protruding element may be caught and accidentally broken in moving the assembly. The casing 7 of the reflector 5 should be sealed within the cylinder so that liquid cannot penetrate to damage the reflector or short circuit the electrical contacts. The base of the accessory is inset at least as deeply as the base of the extinguisher so that a bar may be affixed across the said diameter to provide portability if the assembly must be inverted. The band (not shown) employed in lieu of the threaded flange to enable my accessory to be attached to the base of the extinguisher by contraction of the diameter of the cylinder about the flange 2 is equipped with a screw device for tightening the said band about the outside circumference of the extinguisher. When the band is so tightened, the assembly is capable of use as a unit.

My invention may be constructed of various metals such as sheet iron, zinc or steel, of a gauge adequate to the purpose and having sufficient strength to support the extinguisher and its contents.

The switch controlling the illumination of the lamps of my invention may be of fusible metal similar to the controlling element of sprinkler systems so that the lamps will be automatically turned on when the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere attains the melting point of the switch metal.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privileges is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An accessory for a fire extinguisher having a cylindrical casing with a longitudinal axis and a base, said accessory comprising, a cylindrical container having an axis, a cylindrical wall having a recessed opening therein and an upper end, annular attachment means concentrically defined on said container upper end for removably attaching said container to the fire extinguisher base in concentric, coaxial relationship with said container, an electric lamp assembly mounted on said container wall within said recessed opening for producing a beam of light radially related to said container, a battery within said container, an electric switch mounted on said container accessible exteriorly of said container, and electric conductors connecting said switch in series with said lamp assembly and battery whereby said switch controls energization of said lamp assembly.

2. An accessory for a fire extinguisher as in claim 1 wherein said container cylindrical wall is of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the fire extinguisher base to which said container is attached.

3. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprise threads defined upon said container.

4. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said electric lamp assembly includes a reflector mounted within said recessed opening and a bulb mounted on said reflector such that light emitting from said bulb is reflected through said recessed opening.

5. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said switch includes a fusible material closing said switch and energizing said lamp assembly upon said switch being exposed to an elevated temperature as produced by a fire. 

1. An accessory for a fire extinguisher having a cylindrical casing with a longitudinal axis and a base, said accessory comprising, a cylindrical container having an axis, a cylindrical wall having a recessed opening therein and an upper end, annular attachment means concentrically defined on said container upper end for removably attaching said container to the fire extinguisher base in concentric, coaxial relationship with said container, an electric lamp assembly mounted on said container wall within said recessed opening for producing a beam of light radially related to said container, a battery within said container, an electric switch mounted on said container accessible exteriorly of said container, and electric conductors connecting said switch in series with said lamp assembly and battery whereby said switch controls energization of said lamp assembly.
 2. An accessory for a fire extinguisher as in claim 1 wherein said container cylindrical wall is of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the fire extinguisher base to which said container is attached.
 3. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprise threads defined upon said container.
 4. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said electric lamp assembly includes a reflector mounted within said recessed opening and a bulb mounted on said reflector such that light emitting from said bulb is reflected through said recessed opening.
 5. In an accessory for fire extinguishers as in claim 1 wherein said switch includes a fusible material closing said switch and energizing said lamp assembly upon said switch being exposed to an elevated temperature as produced by a fire. 